If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

5 teams contacted about relocation to LA

LOS ANGELES -- The head of the sports and entertainment firm that wants to build an NFL stadium in downtown Los Angeles has been in talks with officials from five teams about the proposed venue, a company official said Friday.

Anschutz Entertainment Group President and CEO Tim Leiweke has spoken with representatives from the Minnesota Vikings, San Diego Chargers, Oakland Raiders, St. Louis Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars, company spokesman Michael Roth told The Associated Press.

Leiweke said all those teams are "in the mix," but conceded, "We're not packing any (moving) vans right now," according to the Orange County Register, which was first to report on the talks.

The most recent discussion took place a week ago, said Leiweke, who didn't specify which team was involved.

Leiweke also told the Register that AEG owner Philip Anschutz was prepared to acquire a majority stake in an NFL team that would play at the proposed venue and that the company was willing to pay for a team to get out of its current lease.

AEG's $1 billion plan for a 72,000-seat stadium on part of the city's convention center campus is one of two competing proposals that aim to bring pro football back to Los Angeles 15 years after the Rams and Raiders left the nation's second-largest market within months of one another.

Warehouse magnate Ed Roski has permits in place to build a separate 75,000-seat stadium about 15 miles east of Los Angeles, in the city of Industry, but has also not secured a team.

Chargers spokesman Mark Fabiani told the AP that the team is in frequent contact with Leiweke concerning unrelated business, but that a move to Los Angeles has not been discussed.

He stressed that Chargers owner Alex Spanos and his family were not interested in relinquishing a majority stake of the team.

The family recently terminated an agreement with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to shop around a stake in the team they considered selling to reduce the 87-year-old Spanos' estate tax liability upon his death, Fabiani said.

"So if AEG is seeking a majority stake in a team, it would probably be best for AEG to cross the Chargers off its wish list," he said.

Raiders CEO Amy Trask said in a statement through spokesman John Herrera that the franchise would remain with the family of owner Al Davis.

"The team is not for sale," Trask said.

Herrera had no comment on whether a move would be contemplated if Davis retained ownership.

Vikings spokesman Lester Bagley acknowledged that the franchise had been approached by AEG and Roski's group about the possibility of becoming a Southern California team, but said the franchise had no immediate interest in a move.

He said the Vikings hoped state legislators would approve funding to subsidize a new stadium in the Twin Cities when they convene a special session to hash out a budget resolution.

"We believe we're in a position to resolve our stadium issue in Minnesota this year," he said.

Messages left with the Rams and Jaguars were not returned.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy declined to comment on whether the league was aware of team discussions with AEG.

"Teams are permitted to talk to third parties," McCarthy said in a statement.

Re: 5 teams contacted about relocation to LA

This can be very interesting.

Most of these teams have a good reason to leave for a new stadium. The Vikings, Chargers, and Raiders all are in need of a new stadium.

The Rams and Jaguars don't really have much revenue in attendance and it's been that way for a good while, but they play in relatively new stadiums and are under a lease so it might be safe to rule them out FOR NOW.

So 2 of these 3 teams have the best chance of moving it appears. The Chargers, Vikings, and Raiders.

Should be interesting once the stadium is finished and God knows when that'll be.

If anything, between now and then, the Buffalo Bills probably have a good chance of moving to Toronto depending on ownership.

Re: 5 teams contacted about relocation to LA

Considering LA's track record with teams I cannot figure out why anyone is gaga over the prospect of putting a team in LA. I can understand why the league would want a team in the LA market but I can't understand why any owner would want to oblige them.

I think there's too many other activities in LA to support a team long term during lean times.

The owners are always going to be looking for greener pastures after a few years.

Nuntius was right. I was wrong. Frank Vogel has retained his job.

------

"A player who makes a team great is more valuable than a great player. Losing yourself in the group, for the good of the group, thatís teamwork."

Re: 5 teams contacted about relocation to LA

Considering LA's track record with teams I cannot figure out why anyone is gaga over the prospect of putting a team in LA.

I think there's too many other activities in LA to support a team long term during lean times.
.

Nonsense. The LA metro area has over 17 million people- it can support a team in the lean years. The only issue between the NFL and LA was the lack of a quality stadium in which to place a prospective team. That issue appears to be resolved assuming this Farmers Field proposal is legitimate which it seems to be.

Re: 5 teams contacted about relocation to LA

Nonsense. The LA metro area has over 17 million people- it can support a team in the lean years. The only issue between the NFL and LA was the lack of a quality stadium in which to place a prospective team. That issue appears to be resolved assuming this Farmers Field proposal is legitimate which it seems to be.

You really need to step away from the stadium issue Koolaid...

With 17mil people you'd think if the potential fanbase cared enough about their own team they would support it enough to see that they were profitable in an existing stadium and would find plenty of support for a new stadium for the existing team so the owners could make even more money.

Instead, LA NFL teams have moved away.

History is a great predictor of the future.

Nuntius was right. I was wrong. Frank Vogel has retained his job.

------

"A player who makes a team great is more valuable than a great player. Losing yourself in the group, for the good of the group, thatís teamwork."

Re: 5 teams contacted about relocation to LA

With 17mil people you'd think if the potential fanbase cared enough about their own team they would support it enough to see that they were profitable in an existing stadium and would find plenty of support for a new stadium for the existing team so the owners could make even more money.

Instead, LA NFL teams have moved away.

History is a great predictor of the future.

What does this even mean?

Are you trying to say that if the NFL was so popular in LA, then voters would have approved a tax increase to pay for a new stadium? No such vote was ever held and the two newest stadiums in California- AT & T Field in San Francisco and the Staples Center in Los Angeles- were privately financed.

Re: 5 teams contacted about relocation to LA

Are you trying to say that if the NFL was so popular in LA, then voters would have approved a tax increase to pay for a new stadium? No such vote was ever held and the two newest stadiums in California- AT & T Field in San Francisco and the Staples Center in Los Angeles- were privately financed.

Please post sober next time.

You need to put down the stadium koolaid.

I'm saying if LA was an NFL hotbed they wouldn't have already lost a couple of teams in the modern era.

Actually, considering your screen name, why don't you work on IU getting a new arena and replacing Assembly Hall. That's a place that could use a new venue for a host of reasons.

Nuntius was right. I was wrong. Frank Vogel has retained his job.

------

"A player who makes a team great is more valuable than a great player. Losing yourself in the group, for the good of the group, thatís teamwork."

Re: 5 teams contacted about relocation to LA

Meh. I don't think the Chargers are going anywhere, and I don't think that if the NFL comes to LA, two teams will be moved there at once. When you think about it, the idea of moving two teams to a city at once is rather ludicrous.

Re: 5 teams contacted about relocation to LA

I personally never said LA is going to GET 2 teams, they WANT 2 teams. Hell no one knows if they'll even get 1 team.

All I asked is where you got this news that LA wants two teams as I hadn't heard anything like that before. And sorry an article with Al Michaels speculation isn't convincing me that LA wants or will get two teams as he isn't involved with the situation at all.